What do you like about hatchbacks?

Comments

Currently I drive a 2001 Hyundai Accent GS 2dr hatchback and so-far think the car is great ... It's too bad that most of the major manufacturers have given up on the Hatch (as well as the small Wagon) in North America. These types are really more practical than the typical sedan or coupe. I'm kinda intrigued that Europeans still prefer hatches & small wagons to sedans (saloons in the U.K.) & coupes whil in North America it's the other way 'round? Why's that?Once slept in the back of a Honda CRX I once owned, while waiting for a ferry in Nova Scotia ... just curled up back there & went right to sleep!

I think a lot of popularity of hatch backs in Europe is due to the cost of fuel in Europe. The average consumer cannot afford to drive the gas guzzling machines we Americans love. Also, the roads and parking structures in general cannot accommodate the Subs and other large cars found here in America.

The residents of the U.S. are very fortunate to pay less than and around $2.00/gallon of gas. The recent steady rise in prices is a pain in the rear, yet we are not paying in excess of $5.00/gallon (like the residents do in France).

It will be interesting to see if the slowing of the American economy, along with the slowing economy in Tokyo, will have an overall slowing effect on the world's economy as a whole. U.S. & Tokyo are the largest capital generating economies in the world.

As these 2 economies grow or slow, the rest of the world seems to respond the same. We'll see where the price of gas in the U.S. will be in 6-12 months.

Hard to say what a slowing U.S. (& consequently Global) economy will do to oil/gasoline prices. A slower economy will generally mean less disposable income ... people will drive less (i.e. spend less on fuel) and/or turn to smaller more fuel efficient cars. OPEC may keep world oil prices from rising further in a slower Global economy in order to put less pressure on drivers who want to cut back on their fuel consumption, with the hope of maintaining a relatively high level of oil revenue for OPEC members. On the other hand, they may do the opposite ... keep oil prices on the rise as consumption drops due to a slowing Global economy (therby slowing it further), in order to maintain their current level of profit. Given OPEC's track record, I'd say the latter scenario is the more likely.

from Edmunds.com's News section, that I thought some of you might appreciate: Return of the Pocket Rockets by Brent Romans. Note that 3 out of 5 of the "pocket rockets" mentioned here are also hatchbacks! Thanks for your participation. ;-)

I have a Toyota Celica, not a roomy car. Nevertheless I was able to load it with a yard sale's worth of toys and clothing, by flipping the back seats down. It is astonishing how much you can cram in there! The combination of practicality and cuteness is irresistible for me.

My previous hatchback ownership, and a moving experience, also proved this point to me. I was able to move almost all my stuff, including a dining table/four chairs, sofa, bed, and more... from one apt to another in a small Dodge Colt hatchback. I was amazing at what I was able to fit into that car... all because of the hatchback!

The best thing about my 2001 Subaru Forester I is the hatch design. I owned two pick-ups previously, for field work purposes in the American South west and in Northern Mexico (I'm a geographer). The problem with the pick-ups was having to buy a camper top for the pick-up bed: any sensitive equipment or soil/vegetation samples rolled around a lot. Also, the security system for the pick-up wasn't wired to the camper top, so some things were frequently stolen in Mexico (and in Phoenix!).

Now, I can drop the back seats to lie flat, creating a friction-rich carpeted surface to keep all my equipment motionless during travel, even over rough road surfaces. If I have less equipment, I can shove it to one side and sleep in the back. And all of my "stuff" is now protected by the security system on the car. Cargo covers for the hatch are also useful for keeping nosey people from seeing what's in the rear. Enjoy your hatches!

A wagon is simply a subset of hatchbacks. I mean what exactly makes a wagon distinct from a hatchback? Subaru calls the Impreza 5 door a Wagon in the American Market and a Hatchback in other markets. Mazda is selling the Protege 5 door while trying to avoid either Hatchback or Wagon terminalogy though it decidedly looks like a Wagon. I think the line between them is too fuzzy to complain too much about a Wagon getting occasionally mentioned in this forum.

by far the best thing about hatchbacks for me is the handling. I had a daewoo nubira(4 door), jeep comanche(small truck), and a mazda 323(4 door) before I got my new Ford Focus, and none of the above handled half as well as the focus hatchback, I love the way the weight of the body is entirely contained within the wheelbase of the car, very nice, and the light weight, 2500, not bad...there's nothing like tossing my focus at 40mph into a 90 degree corner and scaring the bejeezus out of everyone around...

Whatever happened to the spread-out hatchbacks like the Honda Accord and the Mitsubishi Cordia? I had an '88 Cordia which was perfect for my 5-piece drumset, cymbals and hardware. I don't think i could fit this stuff in a VW Golf or a Civic hatch. The Ford Probe looks big, but I don't like Fords. I really dont want to get a truck, wagon, SUV or van. Any drummers out there have any suggestions?

Most of the Hatchbacks in the older type of car more provided with sport look and ride and especially only 2/3 doors. I used to have the 1990 Celica GT top-model Hatchback and I loved to it very much until my younger sister take over; the car was rected; but I still love the car very much. However, I have family now-a-day and require more into and SUV but SUV drive to work is not worth it; So I decided to keep my Hyundai Santa Fe top-model for weekend and long trip ride...I am planning to go back to my love one (hatchbacks) and forwarding looking at the Hyundai Elantra GT because it does offer more options with price and warranty compare to other manufactures.

Term of my Hatchbacks (most of the car now-a-day):1. Sport Engine, Look, Ride (but sedan feeling)2. Available 4/5 Doors (work just like a family car)3. Save Gas (good gas mileage *better* compare to those SUV and Family car)4. Utilites storage (fold rear seats, similar to SUV)5. Some do have roof rack (another utility storage, also similar to SUV)

***So to speak; the car have speed like a sport car but then you have the sedan ride feeling plus the ability to do light/small Utilities as well***

People tend to change style very often but definitely my term of Hatchbacks will surely fit most people ride and need....

I've seen some interesting stories about the different kinds of things people have been able to transport in their hatchbacks in many of the discussions here. So I thought this subject might make for an interesting discussion by itself. Anyone game?

What's the most stuff, or the largest thing, you've ever transported in your hatchback? Got an interesting story to share? Also, I'm sure many would appreciate knowing what make, model, and year of the hatchback.... Thanks for your participation. ;-)

My 00 Civic HB is great, holds two bicycles, gear & people, its usual task. The fact that it gets over 35 MPG and cost 12 grand brand spanking new is icing on the cake. I kinda feel sorry for people that have spent 30 grand for a land barge (aka SUV) and use it as a grocery getter, but hey they sure look cool (not). rfruth in Houston

I once moved my washer and dryer (separately, of course!) in the back of my Festiva. I folded the rear seat over and it fit nicely, except not being able to close the hatch. Surprised the he!! out of me.

I considered myself a demigod of packing after I managed to get the following into the hatch of my 2002 Mazda Protege5 without removing the cargo cover: a midtower computer case, a 17" computer monitor, an Aiwa stereo shelf system consisting of a receiver/CD changer unit, two bookshelf speakers, and a large subwoofer, an inkjet computer printer, a small box containing computer accessories (mouse, keyboard, software, etc.), a smallish plastic toolbox, two pairs of shoes, a pair of rollerblades, and most of my bedding (to protect the electronics).

Keep in mind these are all fairly good sized items and that I also have a Bazooka tube-style subwoofer mounted in my hatch area that I had to work around. I fit all this stuff in under the cargo cover so none of it could be seen with the hatch closed (good for security!). This was during a long trip out to school, over 1500 miles, so I only get one shot at hauling my belongings out there and anything I may forget, I live without. The rest of my worldly posessions were stored like so: my clothing in a soft, zippered carrier strapped to the roof rack, a bankers box filled with various items in the back seat, and a few other assorted items like a garbage can and lamp that wouldn't fit in the box or hatch were laid in the back seat. My previous vehicle was a Ford Ranger with a camper shell over the bed and I was frankly amazed that I fit all the same stuff into my Protege5 with room to spare. Still wish I had a picture to prove it...

I managed to get a treadmill (new in box) into my 2001 Firebird. I couldn't shut the hatch because the box was too big, and I still wonder how the heck those loading guys managed to get the box in the car without scratching the car or the interior.

I got one new in the box in my '95 Geo Metro, also with the hatch open. It's funny but my Metro has about the same passenger and cargo room as my friends' Camaro Z28 -- his engine is 5.7 times bigger of course ;-)

Well I don't think the Exhaust problem is that bad. Particularly considering the fact that one would be doing it only on an occasional basis (If you need to do it on a regular basis you probably should buy a pickup truck). If you open your windows at the same time as the hatch, air flow should keep most of the exhaust out and what little that does get in will almost certainly not reach a harmful concentration.

Back when I worked in a department store selling appliances and electronics, I had a customer who needed her dryer toute suite because she had small children and was pretty much constantly doing laundry.

I delivered her new gas dryer IN THE BOX in the back of my 1989 Hyundai Excel. I've been hooked on hatchbacks ever since.

Back in '90 I ordered a 12 drawer pedestal for my waterbed from a local store. They called me when it came in. I removed the back seat of my Festiva (just 4 bolts) and headed on down to the store. The sales guy at the counter said to pull my truck around back to the loading dock. You should have seen his eyes when he saw my little car! The pedestal was in 4 cartons, each about 16" x 20" x 6' long.

I convinced the guy to let me try and stuff them in there and lo and behold, they fit. They didn't even stick out of the back all that far. The sales guy was pretty impressed!